Archive for 'Recipes'

“Pan di Ramerino” or rosemary bread is a soft and sweet traditional bread made of dough, raisins and rosemary. Somewhat similar to hot-cross buns in composition, they are also traditionally associated with Easter and are usually eaten on Holy Thursday. On this day, in particular, and around the Easter period, you will find bakeries selling the bread, after having it blessed in nearby churches, all across Florence and Tuscany. Just find a luxury villa near Florence and try it in person for yourself, or if you fancy trying out baking a different snack, why not use the following recipe and give it a go at home? Then, as you enjoy this Tuscan delicacy, you can map out your trip.

Tuscany is known for her delicious food and it is, of course, one of the main highlights of any trip to the region. However, as much as most dishes involve cheese, tomatoes, pork, pasta and other lovely ingredients, some have components that may seem strange or unappetising to some of us from other parts of the globe. Yet, the Tuscans swear by these dishes and, if they say it, surely they are worth a try on your next trip?

Continuing on from our last post, we are outlining some of the dishes from Tuscany that you need to try if you are spending the Christmas period in the region this year!

These include delicious desserts and wonderful main courses and, among them, you are sure to find something to please everyone in your party.

Savoury dishes and gelato are what come to mind when people think of Italian food but the beautiful and historic Siena, is actually particularly well-known for her pastries and, while they are not something you only find at Christmas, they are very much connected to the time of year. In fact, you will probably find many are readily available in nicely packaged sets in gourmet and specialist food shops in your own city over the festive period.

If you are spending time in Tuscany, trying delicious local dishes and delicacies is bound to be on the top of your to-do list. This should be no different if you happen to be spending Christmas in Tuscany.

Forget your regular traditions for once and, instead, truly immerse yourself in Tuscan foodie culture – you won't regret it! To help you out, we've put together a guide to some of the dishes, treats and sweets that you should keep an eye out for on your trip.

Tuscany's hearty cuisine is perfectly suited for the weather in Winter. One of the most cherished dishes is Zuppa di Farro, or Farro Soup. Farro is a grain not unlike spelt which is readily available in Italy but less common elsewhere.

All over the world, people who celebrate Christmas do so with big meals that encourage the whole family to get together. In every country and culture, there are different traditions associated with the holiday and this is true of the food consumed as well. Tuscany, of course, has many traditional dishes that are served at Christmas.

One such dish, typical of Florence, is Tortellini al Brodo, which is comprised of tortellini served in a broth. This delicious dish is served as an early course and is presented with some freshly grated parmesan cheese on top. It is best tried in Tuscany once you have found a luxury villa in Florence but we also have a recipe prepared so that you can try it at home first.